legends, in song, in story and
in rhyme, will laud the name of Bourbon and the glory of the French.
Oh lad! lad! 'tis an ambition worthy a god."

The governor had risen, and waving his long arms this way and that,
pointed out the confines of his mighty dreamland empire with as much
assurance as if cities and towns would spring up at his bidding.

His whole frame spoke the most intense emotion. The face, glorified
and transfigured by the allurement of his brilliant mirage, seemed that
of another man.

"Ah, Placide! Placide! it stings me that this chivalrous king of ours,
this degenerate grandson of Henry the Great, should think of selling
for a few paltry livres such an heritage as this. Shame to you Louis,
shame!"

His tone had grown so loud, so peremptory, I interrupted.

"Caution, sire; who knows what tattler's ears are listening, or where
your thoughtless words may be repeated."

He stood moodily with hands behind him gazing into the fire. For years
I had known Bienville the soldier, the stern and unyielding governor,
with the hand of iron and the tongue of suasion.

Now I saw for the first time Bienville the man, Bienville the
visionary, Bienville the enthusiast, the dreamer of dreams and the
builder of castles. I watched him in amazement.

"Then these miserable women whom our good father, the Bishop of Quebec,
was so kind as to send us, bringing from their House of Correction all
the airs and graces of a court. Bringing hither their silly romances
of a land of plenty; they vow they came not here to work, and by the
grace of God, work they will not. They declare they are not horses to
eat of the corn of the fields, and clamor for their dear Parisian
dainties. Against such a petticoat insurrection the governor is
helpless. Bah! it sickens me. I wonder not that our men prefer the
Indian maidens, for they at least have common sense. But by my soul,
Captain, here I stand and rant like some schoolboy mouthing his speech.
Tush, it is forgotten."

"Tell me, Captain de Mouret, what have you learned of the Chickasaws,
for our time grows short."

Glad to change the current of his thought I went on in detail to give
the results of my reconnaissance. Everywhere we found preparations
among the allied tribes, and felt sure we saw signs of a secret
understanding between them and the Spaniard.

The governor made many notes, and carefully examined the charts I had
drawn of the Chickasaw towns, systematical